Lighting

matrosov · Jan 31, 2017

Ok so as I'm getting massive theory infusion on everything photography. I am thinking about doing some kids portraits to put theory to the test. I already got schooled on backdrop now I need to figure out lighting. I have recessed LED lights around the house. They are great on the eyes but don't do much in terms of illuminating anything for photographic purposes. What would be the most economical way for me to get so good lighting going and also how would I set it all up geographically speaking in relation to whomever I'm shooting. I have SB700 but mounted on camera it creates whole bunch of shadows all over the place.

Thank you for the tutoring.

Derrel · Jan 31, 2017

Okay...lesson One. Bounce flash. Flash on-camera in the hotshoe, but set to bounce off of a large surface that is neutral in color..white, or gray, or black. Set the White Balance on the camera to Flash. (Don't you have tangerine walls? Hang up a white sheet, or a piece of white poster board, or have an assistant hold the bounce board for you).

Use the flash that bounces off of a wall, or a refrigerator, or a white door, to create a BIG light source that models the subjects. Since you have an SB 700, a mid-power higher end flash, you have enough power to get f/8 or so at ISO 640 on an indoor bounce. Set the flash head to a ZOOM setting of 50,70,or 85mm, for a normal room bounce. In a BIG room, or on a long throw, zoom the flash head to maximum telephoto.

You can bounce off a wall, or a sheet, or a foamcore board (poster board from Office Depot, for example), or a refrigerator, or a gray wall, or whatever, and get soft, fairly even lighting. Sometimes it's best to side-bounce, or back-and-to-the-side a bit; a straight overhead bounce can give dark 'raccoon eyes', so consider how the light is bouncing. Aim the flash head so it hits the bounce surface about mid-way between the camera and the subject, more or less.

Bounce the light, and LOOK closely at how it hits...re-aim the flash...shoot some more tests...you will find that the SB-700 will perform best at ISO 400, or 500, or 640 when bouncing the flash and using smaller, "portrait" f/stops which are like f/8 or f/7.1 with more than one person in the shot. Bounce flash can look ***gorgeous*** when fired off of some of the complex surfaces that newer homes have, like little alcoves, or whirlpool baths, or window-seat nooks, and so on. But it does take some practice in learning where to put the people, and where to aim the flash to get a good, workable, appropriate bounce.

matrosov · Jan 31, 2017

Yeap that's me peach everything floor to ceiling floor is actually that honey cherry look so lots of orange yellow stuff all around

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So if the person is against the wall do I just tilt the head of the flash to be 30 or so degrees above their head assuming I'm shooting horizontally? And if I decide to flip it to vertical where do I try to aim the flash and where do I need to be in relation to the person photographed?